Indicator for alarm clocks



July 1, 1924 1,499,399

A. A. OHLER INDICATOR FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed Sept. 28. 1923 Fig. 5.

Jim/ante 7:

Ohler Patented July 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT A. OHLER, F PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

INDICATOR ALARM CLOGKS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. OHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Painesville, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Alarm Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an indicator device for alarm clocks and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction, whereby the user of the clock can readily determine whether or not the control member has been set in the alarm or silent position, even after the light has been extinguished and there is total or partial darkness in the room, such as would make it otherwise diflicult to determine whether the control member has been properly set without again making a light in the room.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an indicator of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be applied to the conventional alarm clock mechanism without necessitating any changes in the construction thereof, and which enables the user of the clock to readily determine the position of the alarm control member in the dark either by the sense of feeling or by the sense of sight.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims. For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a conventional alarm clock, which is pro vided with an indicator constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the clock periphery upon which the indicator is mounted, the said portion of the clock being developed or flattened out to simplify the showing of the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line of the arrows.

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, showing modified forms of the inveiition.

Corresponding and like parts are designated on all of the views of the drawings and referred to throughout the following description by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates a conventional form ofan alarm clock. The alarm mechanism of this clock may be of any suitable or known construction and is controlled by a shut-off member or lever 1, said lever being movable in one direction to what is usuallv termed the silent position, and being movable in the opposite direction to what is usually termed the alarm position. hen the shutoff member or lever is at the silent position the alarm mechanism is disabled and will not be sounded at any time. although when the Shut-Off member is at the alarm position, the alarm will be given at the predetermined time for which I it has been set. The foregoing is of the usual and well known construction and no claim to novelty is based thereon.

ne snut-off lever 1 is shown as project through a slot 2 in the casing and pro vided with a finger piece 3. A cooperating finger piece and signal member 4 projects outwardly from the casing of the clock at a point adjacent to one end of the slot 2. As shown on Figure 2, the member t is located adjacent the alarm end of the slot 2, and is in the form of an ear which is stamped from the sheet metal and bent upwardly therefrom. The member 4 has the body portion thereof arranged parallel to the body portion of the finger piece 3 so that the two have an opposed relation and can be readily engaged bythe thumb and forefinger of a hand when it is desired to move the shut-off lever into alarm position. The signal member 4 is also provided with a lateral flange t, and the finger piece 3 has a corresponding lateral flange 3 and top flange 3". The lateral flanges 4? and 3 are arranged so that they will overlap, as indicated by dotted lines on Figure 1, when the shut-off lever is moved to alarm position and the top 315111 8 3* then extends over the top of the 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction signal member. The two flanges 4 and 3 which are visible from the front of the clock may, if desired, be provided with luminous paint asis indicated by the stippling on the drawing.

The user of the clock, knowing that the signal member 4 is at the alarm end of the slot can tell by the sense of feeling whether the shut-off lever is at the desired position, since by placing the fingers upon the parts he can readily determine whether the finger piece 3 is against the signal member or spaced therefrom. lVhere the parts have the luminous paint applied thereto, as previously indicated, the user can readily tell by looking at the clock whether the shutoff lever is at the proper position. It the two patches of luminous paint appear in a spaced relation the shut-oft lever is obviously at the silent position, although if only one patch of luminous paint isvi sible the shutoif lever has obviously been moved to alarm position, in which position it overlaps and covers the projecting signalmem ber a. .It is thus easy for the user of the alarm clock to determine Whether or not the alarm has been set, even after-he has re tired and the light in theroom has. been extinguished, so as to leave the alarm clock in total darkness.

fr slight modification is shown by Figure 4:, in which the signal member 4r is in the form of a projection which is applied to the clock casing or struck therefrom. The upper end of the shut-oft lever is pro- \"ided with a finger piece 3 which corre spends in general shape and appearance to the signal member 4. Luminous paint may be applied to the members 4 and 3, it desired, and the user of the clock knows that when the members are close together the alarm is set, while when the members-are far apart the shut-off lever is inthe silent position, 7

' A further modification is shown by Figure 5, in which the signal member 4 similar tothat indicated by Figure l; The finger piece 3 projects laterally from the upper nd of the shut-off lever and is arranged so that it will. extend over the top of the signal member 4: when. theshut-ofi member is moved to alarm position. The members l and 3 may have luminous paint applied to the top thereof, and this form of device is well adapted for use when the clock will be viewed. from the side or top thereof, rather than from the front thereof. The finger piece has an overhanging portion which extends over the signal member when the shut-oft lever is in alarm position, and

the user can readily tell by feeling of the parts or by looking at them it they are coated with luminous paint, whether the shut-fofl' lever is in the. desired posit-ion.

\Vhile certain forms and embodiments of the invention have been shown for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: V

' 1'. The combination'with an alarm clock having an alarm control member movable into alarm and silent positions, of an indicating means including a finger piece on the control member, an opposed finger piece and signal member adjacent to one end of the path of movement ofthe control member, and luminous paint on the two finger pieces.

2. The combination with an alarm clock having an alarm control member movable into alarm and silent positions, of indicating means including a finger piece on the control member, and an opposed'finger piece and signal member adjacent to one end of the path of movement of the control member, one ofthe fingerpieces being arranged tov overlap and conceal the other finger piece when th control member is at one limit of its movement. The combination with an alarm clock having an alarm control member movable into alarm andsilent positions, of inj cheating means including a finger piece on the control member, andan opposed signal member arranged adjacent to one end of the path of movement of the control member, the finger piece and signal member being formed with side flanges and. one of the side flanges being adapted. to overlap and conceal the other side flange when the con-j trol member is at one limit of its movement.

'4. The combination with an alarm clock Y ture.

ALBERT A. OHLER. 

